Sunderland lines up key infrastructure

The first two sections of the new Wear Footbridge, a key part of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration masterplan, have arrived in the city.

A mammoth barge carrying the first two steel sections of the bridge arrived over the weekend at the Port of Sunderland. The shipment marked the latest milestone in the construction of the new civic landmark expected to operational next summer.

Specifically, it will connect the former Vaux site to Sheepfolds, where the Stables leisure hub is now open and further development taking shape.

The two steel sections, spanning 83 metres, left a fabrication yard in Belgium on Thursday 1 August and arrived in the city on Sunday afternoon. Once safe to do so, the two parts will be shipped upriver, beyond the historic Wearmouth Bridge, to the site of the new Wear Footbridge.

Lead contractor VolkerStevin will then lift the parts into place and connect them to the North Pier and North Landing sections, as the bridge begins to take shape.

The design team for the £31m bridge comprises Knight Architects, Arup and Colour.

Mike Rimmer, senior project manager at VolkerStevin, said: “This is a significant milestone for the project team and I’m excited to see the steelwork coming down the River Wear. There has been extensive work on site to prepare for the steelwork and to get the piers and abutments ready for the steel to be installed.”

Ten metres wide and spanning 260m, at a height of 30m above the river, the New Wear footbridge is one of several developments currently under construction at Riverside Sunderland, alongside the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy, the Maker & Faber grade A offices, Culture House, the new Eye Hospital and homes at Vaux.

Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for housing, regeneration and business at Sunderland City Council, said: “It was a spectacle to behold seeing the first two sections of the new Wear Footbridge arrive at Port of Sunderland.

“The new Wear Footbridge is the linchpin of our overall plan to regenerate Riverside Sunderland and will transform the city’s active travel network, so it is fantastic to see yet another piece of the jigsaw fall into place as it begins to rise from the ground and take shape.”

Planning permission was also granted last week for a new underpass and bridge structure at the end of Easington Street, connecting the bridge directly to the Stadium of Light.

Cllr Johnston added: “This additional infrastructure at Sheepfolds will complete the footbridge development by connecting it to both the north and south side of the river.

“It will also significantly improve accessibility to the Stadium of Light, Sheepfolds Stables, National Esports Arena and the Housing Innovation and HICSA.”